JERUSALEM, Dec. 28 (JTA) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has survived his first major coalition crisis one that had threatened to leave his government with a minority in the Knesset and hinder Middle East peace talks.
Observers suggest the crisis could be a preview of future battles, when Barak seeks Knesset backing for peace accords with Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians.
The fervently Orthodox Shas Party on Tuesday backed down from its threat to pull out of the coalition after most of its demands for money from the budget were met. Shas had sought funding to keep its debt-ridden educational system running, as well as spending increases in the Shas-run Welfare, Health and Religious Affairs ministries.
Funding was promised in all these departments after Barak spoke with Shas leader Eli Yishai.
“I am happy to say we reached an agreement, though it still has to be finalized,” Yishai told reporters after the crisis was resolved in a final meeting with Finance Minister Avraham Shochat.
Neither Yishai nor Shochat would disclose the total amount promised to Shas.
Earlier, the education and finance ministries had OK’d the transfer of some $20 million to keep Shas’ educational network. In return, Shas promised to reform the way it runs its school system and to work closely with the Education Ministry.
Barak had brought Shas, the third-largest parliamentary faction with 17 members, into the coalition with the hope that its politically moderate views would help build a broad-based consensus for peace negotiations.
Shas’ departure would have left Barak’s coalition with a minority of 51 in the 120-member Parliament. Even with Shas in the opposition, it was unlikely his government would fall, as Barak could rely on support from the Arab and secular parties outside the coalition.
But Shas’ withdrawal would have been a blow to Barak’s aim at building consensus. It would also have left him more vulnerable to ideological pressures from the National Religious Party, which is opposed to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
Earlier, Shas leader Yishai vehemently denied the threat to bolt the coalition was a political ploy.
“I am not trying to pull anything off. If I wanted to play games, I could have done so a week or two weeks ago,” Yishai told reporters.
Opposition leaders sharply criticized the deal reached with Shas.
The secular Shinui Party, which had promised to Barak a “safety net” in passing the state budget in the heat of the crisis with Shas, steamed at the promised funds.
“The government capitulated. It gave in,” said Knesset member Yosef Lapid.
“We can expect another performance at the next chance when the government needs the Shas votes. We will have another extortion campaign.”
Israeli President Ezer Weizman had said Barak should use the crisis with Shas to further broaden the coalition.
But the opposition Likud Party said it is not interested.
“I think the opportunity was blown at the beginning of the coalition negotiations,” Likud Knesset member Meir Sheetrit told Israel Radio. “If Shas leaves the government, we should stay in the opposition” and work together “to bring the government down.”
Likud Knesset member Silvan Shalom said the only conclusion from the affair was that “the government is falling apart.”
